2009 PGA Tour Statistical Odds and Ends, Driving Distance Included

The PGA Tour's Dave Lancer posts his "odds and ends" from the 2009 ShotLink data base. A few that caught my eye:

Charley Hoffman had the year's longest drive -- 467 yards on the first hole during the third round of the Valero Texas Open.

A total of 47 400-yard drives were recorded this year. Dustin Johnson had the most -- five.

Who carries the ball the farthest off the tee on TOUR? J.B. Holmes at an average of 298.6 yards.

The 47 400+ drives prompted me to look back and see if that was a new record in the ShotLink era (though I'm sure Old Tom hit a few back in the day).

400+ drives:

47 2009
12 2008
26 2007
30 2006
18 2005
32 2004
35 2003
1 2002
1 2001
0 2000
1 1999
5 1998
0 1997
0 1996
0 1995
0 1994
0 1993
0 1992

I also opened Excel and tabulated the final 2009 PGA Tour Driving Distance average. I came up with 287.95, up from 287.3 last year.  Just remember that small up-tick in case we hear that distance numbers have been on a steady decline since spring-like effect was more tightly regulated.

And I suppose it should be stated that the advent of drug testing did not ignite a major decline. Not that anyone thought the spike in distance had anything to do with performance enhancing drugs.

While the averages are down from the peak in 2005 and 2006, the driving distance numbers remain astounding compared to where we were in 2000-2002.

Consider the number of players averaging over 300 yards.

In 2009, 13 players averaged over 300 yards (same number as 2008).

Only 1 player averaged over 300 in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

In 2009, 77 players averaged over 290 yards. The 2008 number was 74 averaging over 290.

To put that in perspective, just 18 players averaged over 290 in 2002.